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Mervi Honkatukia Builds New Future for Northern Indigenous Cattle

Date: 2021.03.11

Not to give up. That is NordGen Section Leader Mervi Honkatukia’s motto in the research and conservation of indigenous cattle breeds. Honkatukia has had a long career in the research of animal genetic resources. She is convinced that indigenous breeds have their place in the agriculture of the future. The project Honkatukia is currently coordinating, 3MC – Traditional transboundary cattle breeds in Nordic – highlights that they are also an essential part of the Nordic culture.

The multidisciplinary research team of the project “3MC – Nordic Mountain Cattle”, which is coordinated by NordGen, includes archaeologists, cultural researchers, geneticists, and game developers. NordGen Farm Animal’s Section Leader Mervi Honkatukia heads the research team consisting of experts working together to gather and disseminate knowledge about the common origins and cultural heritage of the Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish mountain cattle breeds. The aim is to raise awareness for a more sustainable use of the now threatened breeds that are at risk of being outcompeted by more commercial breeds.

The idea for the 3MC project was born when Mervi Honkatukia worked in another project with archaeologist and osteologist Auli Bläuer, who studied the early history of Finnish animal husbandry.

“With Auli, we had long conversations about whether the northern cow breeds in the border regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway have a common pedigree. We also discussed that projects focusing on the endangered Northern Finncattle do not necessarily have a significant impact on the breed’s conservation status, but perhaps Nordic co-operation would achieve more”, said Mervi Honkatukia

She continued exchanging ideas and planning a project based on them with Auli Bläuer. Suitable funding for the joint project was found in the EU’s Interreg Nord program, where the cultural dimensions and cross-border cooperation play an important role.

“Conservation of genetic resources requires a culture, a community where animals are cared for and used. Therefore, the genes of our indigenous breeds are culture. It was from this idea that our project started”, Honkatukia recalls.

Working with ordinary farmers

As a researcher and expert in animal genetics, Honkatukia is naturally interested in the new information that the project will provide about the history and pedigree of the northern cattle breeds.

“Now we have a chance to get a clearer picture of how closely the breeds are related”.

However, Honkatukia thinks that the most important achievement during the first year of the project are the contacts that have been made with the livestock owners who do practical conservation work, as well as with other friends of the northern cattle breeds, who are actively promoting the tradition.

“People’s willingness to share their stories and participate in the project as volunteers is simply heartwarming”, Honkatukia says.

Honkatukia emphasizes that it is important to maintain this network and keep it active in the conservation of the northern cattle breeds after the end of the project.

”We are hoping to find, for example, a governmental organization that will continue to operate with the network”.

Road signs to future: communication and multi-use

Mervi Honkatukia’s normal working day in the 3MC project consists not only of practical management and reporting, but also of communication work.

”We try to communicate all the time about what we do and what is new. Not only do we report the results at the end of the project, but I share a wide range of information related to northern cattle breeds on a daily basis, for example on Facebook”, Honkatukia says.

She recommends other research projects to pursue similar activities

”Modesty in this area is totally unnecessary! There is a lot of interesting information about the projects just left untold. Through continuous sharing of information, we could get more people interested in research and new information”.

When the 3MC project is successfully completed in 2022, Honkatukia sees many opportunities for further work with northern cattle and other native breeds.

”Why not protect the breeds that have been with us for so long and have adapted to the living conditions of the North? At the same time, we can protect the cultural history and the partnership of man and cattle, which has helped us survive here for centuries”.

Beautiful and multi-purpose cows

Honkatukia emphasizes that the genetic adaptation of the indigenous cattle breeds has been scientifically proven by genome research. They carry an important advantage in their DNA.

In the conservation work, Honkatukia emphasizes diverse uses of animals and the idea of quality products and sustainability.

“The focus should be on product quality, not quantity. Northern Finncattle, for example, has many useful milk and meat quality traits and the ability to adapt to local conditions. They also have such a nice character and are so beautiful!

Honkatukia will continue to search for future funding opportunities in the EU, both for conservation and research. There is a lot of work to be done in the context of the EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030. Furthermore, the conservation of cultural heritage is also considered an important aim in the EU.

”We must be creative when planning future projects. Cooperation is the key to projects with a real impact. And NordGen is a good hub for that. Here the opportunities for Nordic co-operation can be seen in a new way”, Honkatukia concludes.

The project is funded with a grant from EU Interreg Nord and Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten 2019-2022 and has 5 Nordic partners. NordGen is the coordinator for the project as well as responsible for investigating pedigree and population kinship, dissemination of results and implementation of applications. NordGen will also be responsible for establishing the network of preservers.